//------------------------------// // Feeling the Power // Story: From the Ashes: Ember's Story // by Zoljen //------------------------------// Ember took one last glance in the lobby, namely towards the stallion that had her focus. She saw Talon conversing with another pony, the one that was there when she was first reunited with him. She and the other staff members were being escorted into the basement, where it was one way and one way out. The Renegades were providing the first line of defense, with the Wonderbolts and Luna being the second. If they broke past both lines, well… She didn't want to think about that. She closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head. They had Luna, an alicorn, on their side. How could they lose? She opened them again and focused forward, she had to keep hopeful. Whatever that crazy crystal magic was, it stood no chance against Luna! She wondered how those Shadowbolts would fare against the combined might of Celestia and Luna, they wouldn't stand a chance at all! As the doctors were lead down to the basement, she took the time to look around. Despite not being here, she could feel she was at least partially underground and that alone helped her calm down some. She noticed that the normal blue hue was down here as well, whoever painted this place loved blue. Once led to one of the rooms, she decided it best to take to a corner. She could feel all the worry around her and didn't want it to circle around and make her panic. She was a nurse and needed to be as strong as those who were fighting above. She sat with her back to the corner, resting a hoof on her bracelet as she looked around. Friends were consoling friends, strangers were doing the same to other ponies that they barely knew or didn't know at all. She sighed, looking down at the bracelet that rested upon her fetlock. She knew Quicktail was safe, the Embassy was on the other side of the castle from this compound. And even then, Quicktail wouldn't rush out to join in this fight. Well, he might, but he knew the danger that Talon faced and the injuries that she had told him about. Here she was, a good number of yards from the conflict, and yet Quicktail was safe farther away. When she got the chance, she was going to hug the stuffing out of him. She let out a soft sigh as she rubbed her hoof across her fetlock, just below the bracelet. She could tell every pony in the room was worried, she could taste it in the air. She took another glance around at each pony, noticing that a few were looking towards her. She grinned back to them reassuringly. “What's going to happen to us if the Wonderbolts can't stop them?” A mare asked quietly, scooting closer to Ember. “Well,” Another started, a stallion, “There are a good number of things that could happen.” Ember glared at him, then shook her head, “They will win, and so will those Renegades. Have faith in them.” “But half the Wonderbolts are effectively down!” The stallion looked at Ember. “How can you be so confident?” Ember looked at the ceiling, closing her eyes, “Because, I have a friend who is doing all he can protect us. Despite what we could do to him. Sure, we’re all scared, and so might be the Wonderbolts, but I’d be more scared for them. They have angered the Princess of the Night.” Ember looked at the stallion, smirking. “So they will taste actual fear.” “Yeah!” The mare grins, looking towards Ember, “I saw Princess Luna, she looked determined to make amends for what she did to the Wonderbolts. An alicorn is a powerful force to be reckoned with!” “But the Wonderbolts lost to them, and it took these other ponies coming in. What if these Renegades flee from us?” “They wouldn't,” Ember shook her head. “Some of those Renegades are retired Wonderbolts. They would stay and defend us,” she grinned, then blinked and glanced up just as the ground shook faintly. A few ponies quickly stood up and looked around, as Ember remained staring at the ceiling. A faint trickle of panic was seeping in from above, at least for a moment before determination took over. She hadn't thought about it, but she could barely sense the emotions outside. Too much was in the way to get an accurate reading, but that sudden spike of panic was enough to worry her. The ceiling continued to shake slightly, some of the tiles shifting slightly and one of the light fixtures coming loose. Ember quickly focused on it, as did a few other unicorns as it was suddenly covered in a rainbow of auras. She let out a sigh of relief as it was floated back up and reattached. The shaking soon stopped, making everypony look up at the ceiling. “What's going on out there?” “They’ll let us know when it's safe, right?” Ember sat, staring at the ceiling as she felt something, a quick glance around told her most of the unicorns felt it too. Something powerful and deadly was about to happen. The feeling of dread seemed to last few a few minutes before it passed, leaving some of the unicorns, and Ember, wondering just what all that was. Ember sighed as she looked over Talon, they were both quiet as he sat there, keeping his fore leg held out just enough for Ember to see it. He had lost his guards early on in the fight, and with no real way to hide his limb he basically hobbled in with it wrapped up in a wing and covered in mud. She sighed as she cleaned off the leg of mud, glancing up to him as he looked around the infirmary. At some point, Discord had come and gone and thankfully ignored them both. Neither were in the mood to deal with him and thankfully he was more focused on Luna. The pair remained in silence as Ember started to wrap up his leg with athletic tape, using the widest she had at the time. “I won't be able to cover all of it,” she mumbled, barely glancing up to see him nod slightly. She paused a moment in wrapping, sighing, “Why?” “Why what?” Talon looked down at her. “Why are you fighting against impossible odds?” Ember looked up at him, making him sigh as he saw the worry in her eyes, “You could die out there! I already lost you once, I don't want to lose you again,” she looked down, sniffling. Talon rested his good hoof on the back of her head. “Always the overprotective sister, even after all this time,” She looked up, as he kept grinning at her. “I’m just protecting those that can't protect themselves, that's all. It's what I do.” “But!” she started, then suddenly found a hoof in her mouth as Talon shook his head. “If I was a Wonderbolt, A Royal Guard, a Sky Wing, or even a Scale Guard, I’d be doing the exact same thing; protecting.” He grinned warmly at her, “It's who I am, just like you are a medic. A healer of those who need it, and in the days to come. I’m almost positive that your presence is going to be needed; be it here in this compound, or Canterlot General, or even the Canterlot Castle.” He removed his hoof, putting it under her as she tried to look down. “You have a mate who loves you with all his heart in that city. Once your done in here, you go to him and snuggle up to him. And before you protest, I order you to do that as your brother.” Ember sighed, nodding slightly she resumed wrapping his leg as best she could, “You're lucky you can still fight. I don't know what all went on out there, but a good number of Renegades are down for the count.” “Then I’ll carry on to protect them too.” Talon nodded, looking up again. “I wish I could be as brave as you,” Ember murmured softly, making Talon look down at her again. “But you are,” she glanced up as he continued, “You willingly came to Equestria, you fought against drakes in a sneak attack, you protected some strangers who had taken you into their home and provided a place to rest. You have friends here, some that I would love to get to know better. You are braver than me.” He finished, grinning. She grinned as she took in his words, he was right! She had faced many more dangers than this. She even had a mate, a partner, and a large extended family. “We can toss this debate back and forth, so let's just be brave for each other. Okay, Talon?” Ember nodded as she finished up wrapping up most of his leg, leaving just the hoof visible with no holes being seen. “Alright,” Talon glanced over himself. “Am I good to go? I think you have other ponies to attend to, and… I have a pair of leg guards to go find.” Ember nodded and stepped away, letting Talon hop off the table. The moment he did, she hugged him. He looked at her and laid a wing over her. “I’ll be fine, you take care of yourself, ok? If anything, I'm a survivor.” “And you do the same.” Ember squeezed him tightly, then let go and moved onto the next pony as Talon trotted out. “Hey Ember,” Ember heard just as she entered the tunnel leading to the castle. She stopped and turned partially, seeing a familiar grey mare come trotting up to her. “Thanks again for your help earlier with everything.” Ember nodded wearily to Witching Hour, “Anytime. You just keep an eye on Talon, okay?” “I will, I heard from Silver that his leg guards are torn up. How should I hide his hoof?” Witch glanced to Embers saddle bags, where a pair of blue bracers were somewhat poking out. “He currently has it wrapped up with athletic tape. That should suffice for now since his suit hides most of the leg in general,” Ember looked down for a moment, then back up. “Take care of yourself, okay?” “You could stay and help, we can always use an extra pair of hooves around here.” “As much as I’d like to stick close to Talon, I really need Quicktail right now,” Ember sighed softly. “There is still a bunch of pretty negative emotions in the air, and some are coming from you.” Witch blinked, “I am not…” “You’re hiding your anger pretty well. But I can still see it, Witchy.” Ember smirked slightly as Witch just sighed. “I partially know what has you so mad, but for now. I’d put it on the back burner and focus on what's in front of you,” Ember moved forward and put a hoof on Witch’s shoulder. “It’s partially why I avoided you in the infirmary. I really didn't need the anger at the moment.” “I understand,” Witch muttered softly, she then looked at the armor in the bag. “Going to get those fixed?” “Steel Smith should have them back in no time. Seems Talon tore them when he, er, sharpened his blades,” Ember faked a grin as she hid the partial lie. Witchy just shook her head slightly and turned back towards the compound. “He shouldn't tear the tape, I hope.” “If he does, I’ll tape his mouth shut then.” Witchy chuckled as she walked back into the compound, leaving Ember to walk back to the castle.